Does fetal endoscopic closure of the myelomeningocele prevent loss of neurologic function in spina bifida aperta?

Abstract

Background: Spina bifida aperta (SBA) is associated with shuntdependent hydrocephalus and with meningomyelocele (MMC). Fetal endoscopic closure of the MMC may reduce shunt-dependency, but the benefit upon motor function in individual patients is still unclear. An increase in differentiated muscle ultrasound density (dMUD) provides an objective parameter for the extent of muscle damage caudal to the MMC. In this perspective, we aimed to compare dMUD and neurological function between SBA children treated by fetal endoscopic closure (fSBA) and by neonatal closure (nSBA) of the MMC. Materials and methods: We included 12 [age- and (level of) MMC-] matched pairs of fSBA and nSBA children [age 1 (0-5) years; upper level MMC L3 (L2 - L5); medians (ranges)]. All 12 fSBA patients were delivered by caesarean section, all 12 nSBA patients by vaginal delivery. To compensate for the effect by delivery mode, we also compared separate (age- and MMC-) matched pairs of nSBA children born by caesarean section (nSBASC; n=13) and by vaginal delivery (nSBA-VD; n=13). Neurological parameters consisted of dMUD (defined as: [MUD caudal to the MMC] minus [MUD cranial to the MMC]); motor- and sensory function and shuntdependent hydrocephalus and Chiari-II (C-II) malformation. fSBA and nSBA patients were treated at Bonn and Groningen/Cologne, respectively. Results: dMUD was significantly lower in fSBA than nSBA [15 (-9 to 68) vs. 26 (-1 to 39), medians (ranges); p